AVI, Audio Video Interleave, is a multimedia container format commonly used in our daily life. However, its compression standard is not universal and different compression standards can cause failure while playing an AVI file. These files are great because they always offer great quality video. But sometimes, you download an AVI file and it won’t play. So how can you play an AVI file?
When an AVI file can’t be played, you have five main tools to use: software, operating system, device, video codec, and audio codec.
Software Tools
#1. Windows Media Player
When software is the problem, the common solution is to replace one program with another. You might use VLC if you can’t open your AVI with Windows Media Player. But hold on! Is Windows Media Player truly a poor playback tool? Nope. Most of the time, you can just check the box Windows Video File (avi) in Menu->Tools->Options->File Type.
Note that this doesn’t exist in WMP12, and is only available in the previous version.
#2. QuickTime on a Mac
The most recommended option when you can’t play an AVI file with QuickTime is to convert it to another common video format, like MP4. But you can usually solve the problem just by adding a plugin like Perian, which is an open-source (free) QuickTime plugin that allows to playback most of the video formats like that cannot be played natively on Mac QuickTime, like AVI.
Operating System
#3. Ways to play AVI on iPad/iPhone/iPod
There are at least 2 ways to play an AVI on your iOS devices. The simplest way to play an AVI on your iOS devices is to download a video player, which can support almost all kinds of video formats, including AVI. Another common tactic is to convert the file to another common format, like MP4, and display in your all iOS devices.
#4. How to play AVI on Android phones like SAMSUNG/HTC/NEXUS
Here, the most recommended way is to use a video converter to convert the AVI to other formats. However, the main problem you encounter is not to how to play an AVI on those android phones, but how to play it well. After you’ve installed a video player from Google Play or Amazon Apps, you can play AVI files on an Android phone. But there are usually some playback issues such as stuttering video, freezing video, audio sync issues, or even playback in slow-motion. You can avoid those issues by using “Hardware Decoding,” which is completely designed for playing video.
Device
#5. Ways to play AVI on TV like SAMSUNG TV
The very first way is to transfer your video to TV via USB/AV Cable/WiFi (HDMI Cable is only available for those who have an HDMI Plug). Then the next way is to convert to a video/TV converter. The last way is to cast it to the TV directly with Chromecast. However, Chromecast doesn’t support AVI directly. You need to use a converter first and then plug this thumb-sized media streaming device into the HDMI port on your TV. Then you can set it up with a simple mobile app and share your favorite online shows, movies, and even web pages to your TV using your smartphone, tablet or PC.
#6. Ways to play AVI on Xbox 360
There are no special processes to play an AVI file from DVD, USB, or WiFi because the Xbox 360 console only supports AVI files with DivX and XviD video. However, what if your video is not DivX or XviD? Don’t worry. You can convert AVI to DivX or XviD format directly.
#7. How to play AVI on Kindle Fire
Well, Kindle Fire has many limits to play videos, especial for AVI files, which have various codecs inside. Like any other mobile devices, users can choose to download a powerful video player app to play AVI files or convert AVI to other suitable formats.
Codec
#8. Use the FFDSHOW codec to solve all AVI problems
Most users have video players on their PC/Mac. What they need is just a suitable codec to play them. FFDSHOW is the one you need. It’s a codec that supports most downloaded videos. What’s more, it’s free and open-source. It supports most common video compression methods and can provide good support for using subtitles and various picture improvements. So just download it, install it on your PC, and follow the on-screen guides.
#9. Other ways to play an AVI using codecs
Sometimes, you need tools to analyze the AVI and find the right codec. There are two common tools: AVIcodec and GSpot, but the most recommended one is the AVIcodec.
AVIcodec is a simple and easy-to-use program with two main tabs – Multimedia files and Codecs & Filters. Under Multimedia files, users can open and analyze video and audio files.
#10. Ways to play an AVI with AC3Filter
Sometimes, an AVI file will play without audio. How does that happen? Like the video, audio is also encoded and decoded with certain codecs. When you’re using multi-channel formats like AC3 and DTS, it requires special codecs to decode, like AC3Filter. It’s a free and open-source decoder.
Well, we can say that there are multiple ways to play AVI video files. Try them out and see which is best to solve your problems. Click here to know how to repair corrupt AVI file header.